In Color – Haiku 2025; ThursdayDoors

Posted bySuzette BenjaminPosted inPoetryTags:
Ourense Cathedral (St. Martin’s Cathedral), Spain. Licensed image credit © Jose Ramon Pizarro Garcia | Dreamstime

reading without words

a portal preaches in color

—the path to glory

*

The featured portal in two parts, is the West facade entrance to Ourense (pronounced ‘aw-ren-say’) Cathedral, or St. Martin’s Cathedral. Spain (circa 1220).

Part one of the featured portal is the external wooden valves seen in the above photo and part two is the actual door and archway behind the door valves, known as the Pórtico do Paraíso (The Portal of Paradise).

Trivia #1:

The story of the patron saint of Ourense Cathedral – Saint Martin.

One winter night in the year 334 AD, a young Roman soldier (age 18) named Martin stationed in Gaul (modern-day France) performing his rounds on horseback, encountered a poorly clad beggar shivering in the brutal cold at the city gate (Amiens).

Moved by the beggar’s plight, the young Roman soldier took his sword and cut his cloak in two and gave one half to the beggar.

That night when the Roman soldier, Martin was at home in bed, as the legend goes, Jesus appeared to the young Roman soldier wearing the half-cloak he (Martin) had given to the beggar.

Soon thereafter the Roman soldier (Martin) was baptized as Christian and left the Roman army to pursue life in service of the Church, as a disciple of the Bishop of Poitiers. Later appointed the third Bishop of Tours that Roman soldier is venerated today as Saint Martin.

Saint Martin is the patron saint against poverty, of quartermasters, riders, horses, and geese. (*Saint Martin’s association with geese was mentioned in a previous Thursday Doors post on Basel Minster.)

The *featured door’s second part and grand entrance is the Pórtico do Paraíso. An image is below.

West Entrance, Pórtico do Paraíso, Orense Cathedral, Spain. Licensed Image credit: © Richard Semik | Dreamstime.

Recently restored (2017) the Pórtico do Paraíso is a color-sculptured illustration intended to instruct the pilgrim on the path from the earthly life to paradise (heaven) according to the scriptures.

Copious and detailed color statues depict the prophets, each one labeled with their names, Daniel, and the Apostles with their books. The central arch presents sculptures of the 24 elders mentioned in the Book of Revelation (4:10) along with musicians holding instruments.

Saint Martin, as he is normally depicted on horseback, is in a niche above the door on the right of the central arch.

On the mullion (the pillar between the portico arches) is a sculptural representation of Saint James (Santiago) holding a book and staff. And at the top of the mullion, the Virgin Mary with baby Jesus. The plaque’s inscription on the mullion reads:  “MILAGROSA IMAGEN DE N.TRA. SORA DEL CONSUELO,” (“Miraculous Image of Our Lady of Consolation [Virgin Mary])”

West Entrance, Pórtico do Paraíso, Orense Cathedral, Spain. Licensed Image credit: © Richard Semik | Dreamstime.

A closer look at the intricate labled sculptures in full color —the Pórtico do Paraíso, Ourense Cathedral is below.

Detail Closeup, West Entrance, Pórtico do Paraíso, Orense Cathedral, Spain. Licensed Image credit: © Jose Ramon Pizarro Garcia | Dreamstime


Trivia #2:

Ourense Cathedral is famous for its museum collection, including its copy of the Missal Auriensis (1494), the oldest book printed in Galicia dated only 40 years after the Gutenberg Bible. The only other copy of the Missal Auriensis is housed at the Biblioteca Nacional de España (Spain’s National Library).

Additional facts:

Bordered by impressive mountains along with the Minho River, which flows through the city. Ourense has a unique micro-climate that is noticeably super hot in summer, giving it, along with only a handful of other cities in Spain, the moniker of la sartén de España—Spain’s Frying Pan.

Let me hasten to add that Ourense is famous for its natural healing (mineral) thermal waters and hot springs. Many of the healing pools and hot springs (with comfortable temperatures reportedly) are open to the public at a very nominal cost for several hours of use.

And for more #ThursdayDoors visit Dan Antion at No Facilities.

Ritva Photography

Published by Suzette Benjamin

Positive thinker, inspirational, writer, faith

53 thoughts on “In Color – Haiku 2025; ThursdayDoors”

      1. I always love Thursday Doors Suzette.
        You do put a lot of effort into your posts and time too with researching, so thanks again.
        My pleasure always.
        Thank you for the blessings.
        I wish you the same dear friend,
        today and always

        Liked by 1 person

  5. Pingback: In Color – Haiku 2025; ThursdayDoors – Suzette B’s Blog | Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News

  7. This is such an interesting post, Suzette. I love the images and the explanations. I was moved by the story of Martin as the young soldier. It’s easy to understand, yet amazing how so much history grew from a simple act of kindness. Thanks for sharing this story and the other bits of trivia.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thanks Dan. Well said… “A simple act of kindness imparted much history” into the world. I do not know church history as well as I ought but I believe that there are only a few Saints venerated across multiple christian traditions / denominations and Saint Martin is among that company of saints.

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Moved by a beggar’s plight, that young Roman soldier took his sword, cut his cloak in two, and gave half to the beggar — a Damascus moment for the man we now know as St. Martin. How we need more patron saints of poverty.

    It is inspiring to read about the deep meditation and careful thought that went into constructing this majestic cathedral, with its illustrious, colour-sculpted doors — a visual sermon guiding the pilgrim from earthly life to paradise, as taught in the scriptures. These teachings, along with the prophets and elders holding their books, are literally cast in stone.

    I am in awe of this magnificent cathedral you’ve shared on your blog. It truly feels like a “door to the books” — a place of ancient and treasured knowledge, set in a warm valley blessed with thermal waters. Thank you for bringing it to life so vividly.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Your comment is so profound and beautifully stated.
      I love your perspective on the power of that one moment – a Damascus road view as you mentioned. And how, that one act by the Roman soldier changed and created another chapter in the book of the faithful.

      And indeed, these doors and archways feel like great storytellers, moving pages of the stories in the scriptures.

      I cannot begin to imagine the amount of time it took to sculpt one of these figures, much less the copious amounts in this door’s archways.

      Thank you for your generous, and as always, eloquent support.

      Liked by 1 person

  16. Absolutely amazing storytelling through scripture.
    I can only imagine the awe and glory people must have felt, seeing the scriptures brought to life in such vivid, visual form through these churches. I say it often because it’s true — this is such a beautiful way to honour faith and to teach it, with the very architecture and doors serving as moving pages of the sacred stories.

    The men and women who created these works devoted countless hours to both the study of scripture and the artistry of bringing it to life.

    You are most welcome, Poet. And thank you once again for sharing this magnificent treasure.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. You make excellent points. I had not thought of honoring faith, and the time and study required to examine the scriptures and translate that insight to artwork. So miraculous.
      You are most welcome. A pleasure.

      Liked by 1 person

  18. The grand entrance is indeed grand, but the outside doors have a balanced simplicity that really appeals to me. The way the curves repeat and echo one another is truly beautiful. (K)

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  22. What a stunning restoration! I’m always amazed by how the sculptures above and around the doors in cathedrals were (and are) able to convey so many stories to the people. And the colors make it all the more vivid and powerful. Your haiku captures all of this beautifully!

    Liked by 1 person

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